DA seeking death penalty in Wilmington machete deaths

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man will face the death penalty in the murder of a mother and her 20-month-old daughter.

District Attorney made the announcement during a Rule 24 hearing this morning for Darrell Gerard Taylor, 34.

Taylor faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, one count of felony child abuse, robbery with a dangerous weapon and felon in possession of a firearm.

The charges stem from an incident Sept. 27 at Greentree Apartments in Wilmington. That’s where Taylor is accused of killing the mother of his children, YaWanda Felicia Doe, 35, and her daughter. They were pronounced dead in the parking lot. Doe’s 3-year-old son and Michelle Dukes, 47, were injured.

District Attorney Ben David later said a machete was used in the attacks.